Chapter 13
"Going later isn't just about wasting someone's potential anymore."
"Who knows, I might have to give my disciple first aid."
"That's not an exaggeration at all."
Sister Shang Wu had once considered taking on disciples. Everyone thought that since she had reached the Inner Scene at such a young age, even if she was usually unreliable, teaching a disciple would be a piece of cake. They all tacitly approved.
But who would have thought that on the very first day, that poor kid would go completely off the rails?
After that, Shang Wu either lost interest in taking on disciples or realized she wasn't cut out to be a mentor, and she never brought it up again.
Unfortunately, that kid Li Mo had talent, but he gave off a vibe that left people at a loss for how to guide him.
The other elders didn’t know how to teach him, and their own slots for true disciples were already filled.
Otherwise, with his talent, which had reached the peak alongside Ying Bing, how could he have fallen into such a pit?
Xue Jing had already stopped expecting Li Mo to reach the same level as Ying Bing in a single day.
Just hoping he could come out of this unscathed would be a blessing.
He sighed.
With a gust of wind at his feet, Xue Jing seemed to vanish into the breeze, moving at a speed that was hard to follow with the naked eye.
In just a few breaths, he was at the foot of Qunyu Peak, carrying a medicine box on his back.
However, before he even reached the summit, the worry on Xue Jing's face turned to confusion.
"Something's off."
"Is someone drawing on the essence of heaven and earth to practice?"
Drawing on the essence of heaven and earth, also known as the unity of man and nature, is a state that all martial artists dream of achieving.
Practitioners need to supplement their energy through food, elixirs, and the like to cultivate their vital energy.
However, neither food nor elixirs can be consumed endlessly.
In rare circumstances, a martial artist might achieve this unity, a state somewhat akin to the Outer Scene, where their small inner world resonates and cycles with the vast outer world.
The speed of energy absorption would increase by more than a hundredfold!
Moreover, there would be no side effects afterward, and unexpected benefits would arise.
"Shang Wu should be sleeping right now. Why is she practicing? And achieving unity at that?"
Xue Jing quickened his pace.
At the mountain's peak, he saw Li Mo sitting quietly in front of a wooden cabin, as if he had merged with nature.
Countless pores on his body seemed to have opened, continuously exchanging breath with the outside world.
It was as if his body had connected with heaven and earth.
To the universe, he was like a small depression, drawing in the purest source energy from all directions, as if it were trying to fill this low spot.
He could vaguely sense that within that kid's dantian, a lotus seed had been planted.
At this moment, it was crazily absorbing source energy, heading towards rooting, sprouting, and eventually blooming.
Sizzle—
A light sound echoed.
Before Xue Jing could even be shocked, another sizzle followed.
"Did he just open a meridian and unblock a main channel?"
Xue Jing's mouth dropped open, his long beard fluttering in the wind, and he fell into a daze.
Not only had he successfully opened a meridian.
But also!
In just one day, he not only opened a meridian but also unblocked a main channel with unstoppable momentum.
He had learned the "Fire Heart Lotus Method" without any guidance and entered the state of unity with heaven and earth!
Xue Jing was questioning his life, unable to find words to describe his feelings.
"Elder Xue, when did you arrive?"
Li Mo's ears twitched, and he opened his eyes.
"You... don’t get distracted! The unity of heaven and man is a rare opportunity!"
Xue Jing was anxiously puffing out his cheeks and glaring.
"Huh? Unity of heaven and man?"
Li Mo was momentarily stunned, not understanding.
"But I kind of need to go to the bathroom."
Old Xue's head went blank. Was it really the time for that?
He was now in the Inner Scene realm.
Achieving unity with heaven and earth was like getting a sneak peek at the Outer Scene, a rare and precious opportunity.
If this chance were given to him, he could have a better shot at reaching new heights.
This kid was completely unaware of the value, wasting a golden opportunity!
"Okay, fine."
Li Mo didn’t understand why Old Xue suddenly seemed a bit flustered.
He had just complained about the sun being too bright and had moved his spot under a tree.
Then he continued practicing, and his speed was still this fast.
Could it be...
Others didn’t practice like this?
Perhaps it was the benefits brought by the Xuanpin Immortal Body...
Thinking of this, Li Mo felt a bit puzzled.
"The Fire Heart Lotus Method says that opening the twelve meridians and planting twelve lotus seeds counts as success, reaching perfection in the Vitality Realm."
"But... why do I feel like it’s not just that?"
He could sense that the twelve main meridians were far from his limit.
His body felt like a bottomless pit.
The first and second meridians being connected was just the beginning.
"Well, let’s take it one step at a time."
"Foundation is important; I need to practice until it's perfect."
Li Mo closed his eyes and entered the state of practice once more.
Meanwhile, Xue Jing kicked open a nearby wooden door and saw Shang Wu still sleeping soundly, causing his forehead to throb.
He took out a wake-up incense from the medicine box and waved it under her nose.
"Achoo!"
Shang Wu sneezed, her elegant face scrunching up.
Having her sweet dreams interrupted twice in a row, she clenched her fists and, seeing it was the well-meaning Elder Xue, she said impatiently:
"Old Xue, you better have a good reason for this."
"Your disciple is outside achieving unity with heaven and earth, and you can still sleep? How can you sleep through this?"
Xue Jing replied irritably.
"You’re drunk, I’m drunk."
Shang Wu tilted her head, thinking Old Xue was talking nonsense.
"Can’t you just go outside and see for yourself?"
After saying that, Xue Jing didn’t bother to argue further and stepped outside.
Shang Wu’s eyes were hazy for a moment, then she scratched her head and looked outside.
At that glance, she stood up straight.
.....
【Congratulations, host! Demonstrating unity with heaven and earth has inspired Xue Jing.】
【Congratulations, host! Demonstrating unity with heaven and earth has inspired Shang Wu.】
【Calculating rewards...】
【Investment return: Ice Fire Wine, three bottles.】
【Investment return: Twenty years of martial arts insight.】
【Ice Fire Wine】: "After drinking, it tempers the body with the duality of ice and fire, a holy product for enhancing physical strength."
Huh?
I can get investments just by practicing?
This reward is practically like finding money on the ground.
"Ice Fire Wine..."
Li Mo decided not to try it out just yet.
From what he knew about his master in such a short time, if he brought out the wine, there wouldn’t be a drop left.
Besides, he still didn’t know how to refine his body.
Ice Fire Wine would be just the right thing.
After practicing for about two hours, he really couldn’t sit still anymore.
The muscle soreness and fatigue described in the martial arts manual weren’t there.
But his bladder was indeed feeling both sore and full.
Thinking this, Li Mo stopped drawing energy from heaven and earth, patted his clothes, and stood up.
That strange state vanished.
The first thing he saw was Xue Jing, who seemed reluctant to come back to reality, then he sighed with emotion:
"I owe you one, kid."
At their age, breaking through deep-rooted bottlenecks was incredibly difficult.
Observing the unity of heaven and earth was also a great benefit for him.
"Elder Xue, you flatter me. My father often speaks highly of you at home."
Li Mo cupped his hands respectfully.
His father, Li Dalong, had once been a disciple of Xue Jing.
Back then, Xue Jing hadn’t yet taken on the role of elder.
"Haha, I’m glad he still remembers me."
Xue Jing stroked his long beard and sighed, "It’s a pity about Dalong. If he hadn’t encountered that accident, he would have been an inner sect steward by now."
Old Xue looked about the same age as Li Mo's father.
But Li Mo knew that when his father first joined, Xue Jing already looked like this middle-aged man.
His real age was probably not far from ninety-six.
Li Mo spoke up at the right moment:
"Everyone has their fate. My father said that being able to survive was all thanks to Elder Xue's help."
"If it weren’t for my father getting injured and returning home, he wouldn’t have met my mother, and I wouldn’t be here."
"Lost in one place, found in another; that’s just how it is."
Little Li had a knack for charming his elders.
"Dalong is fortunate."
Xue Jing looked at Li Mo with a bit more appreciation.
This kid didn’t seem at all like the mischievous one Li Dalong had described in his letters.
Perhaps it was just that a father would always be stricter with his son.
The atmosphere between the old and the young was just right.
Suddenly, Li Mo caught a whiff of alcohol, and then his neck tightened, feeling a wave of suffocation.
Shang Wu wrapped her arms around her only beloved disciple's neck, vigilantly asserting her claim:
Table of Contents
